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Monday, May 8, 2017

UNICEF welcomes release of abducted 82 Chibok school girls

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed the last
Saturday release of some 82 Chibok school girls abducted by the Boko Haram
terrorist group, reports NaijaAgroNet.

As gathered by NaijaAgroNet
the girls were released in exchange of Boko Haram members arrested by the
Federal Government.

Emergency Communications Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria, Harriet Dwyer said that it is
heartening to know that the girls will be returning to their families who have
been waiting for this day.

“They will face a long and difficult process to rebuild
their lives after the indescribable horror and trauma they have suffered at the
hands of Boko Haram.

“UNICEF is on standby to support the Nigerian authorities to
provide the comprehensive psychosocial support and other specialized services
needed. We will help reunite the girls with their families and make sure they
can continue their education in a safe environment. Already staff at a UNICEF
supported health clinic have been supporting immediate efforts to identify the
girls and conduct medical check-ups before their onward transport.

“UNICEF calls on Boko Haram to end all grave violations
against children, especially the abduction of children and the sexual abuse and
forced marriage of girls.

“We commend the government for this important achievement in
helping to protect children impacted by the conflict in northeast Nigeria but
remain deeply concerned for the thousands of women and children still held in
captivity by Boko Haram. Greater efforts must be made to bring them all to
safety and home to their families.

“UNICEF has a comprehensive response to help children who
have been affected by the conflict in the Lake Chad Basin and works with
national authorities to support hundreds of children and women who have escaped
or been released from Boko Haram. Every child is unique and requires different
levels of support, so there is no standard formula or defined timeframe for
these children to recover.

UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes, as
long as it takes to help these children recover a sense of normalcy with our
available resources,” Dwyer said.